Earl Thomas to Cowboys' coach: 'Come get me'

by Michael-Shawn Dugar, SeattlePI

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) fumbles the ball near the goal line and into the end zone as Seattle Seahawks' Earl Thomas (29) and Sheldon Richardson (91) move in during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

In the moments after the Seahawks' 21-12 victory over Dallas, free safety Earl Thomas jogged to the Cowboys locker room looking for his friend, Dez Bryant.

On his way, Thomas encountered Cowboys coach Jason Garrett. During a brief exchange with Garrett, Thomas said if Dallas has a chance, "come get me," implying that he'd like to play for Dallas when he becomes a free agent after the 2018 season.

Explaining his comment in the Seattle locker room afterward, Thomas said that's in fact what he meant.

"I've always been a Cowboys fan growing up," said Thomas, who played at the University of Texas and is from Orange, Texas.

"But the biggest thing when I say come get me is I don't literally mean 'come get me now.' I'm still in the prime of my career, I still want to be here. But when Seattle kick me to the curb, please, the Cowboys, come get me. That's the only place I'd rather be if I get kicked to the curb."

Thomas, 28, signed a four-year extension worth $40 million in 2014. He's set to become a free agent in 2019 and on the open market he could likely demand a contract similar to Kansas City's Eric Berry, who in February signed a six-year, $78 million deal with $40 in guarantees.

The six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro said he's "happy" and he "don't want to leave" Seattle but he isn't sure whether Seattle plans to offer him an extension in the near future and said "if they don't, (Dallas) please come get me."

He added later: "I'm (going to) just keep ballin' and hopefully they see the value."

If Seattle follows its typical pattern of dealing with extensions to key players, Thomas is in line to receive an extension in the summer, as strong safety Kam Chancellor did in August.